Battery or propane ?

[farmerbillswife]

I have a 2012 Jayco and just became a seasonal this year. As I was chatting with some young folk they said running propane for the fridge is cheaper then electric. So this got me thinking and I asked a few other "old timers" and they said electric. So I am trying to figure out propane or electric or is this just a personal choice kinda thing?

BTW--Just got my electric bill for the month-$39 but we were not running AC since it has been so cold but have been using heater at night.

[Lantley]

I do believe it is more efficient to run the fridge on propane.
However that doesn't necessarily mean it is cheaper or more convenient.
Most people use the auto feature and don't worry about the cost of running the fridge. The difference is negligible in most cases.
Having to change propane tanks in couple with the risk running empty negates any potential savings benefit of using propane exclusively.

[Diceman719]

My TT is parked in the back yard down here in S. Florida...
(My house is on the Market and I'm going full-timing as soon as it sells.)
I have an extension cord, with an adapter, running into a wall outlet in the Florida Room.

If I *don't* run the fridge on Propane, I pop the house circuit breaker every time the TT A/C comes on.
(Believe me, keeping the A/C on while working on/filling the TT is a must down here. And I *have* to have the fridge running to keep the beer cold!)
With the fridge on Propane, the A/C runs just fine...

Plus, Propane is a lot cheaper than electricity in my area.
(I'm not even going to get into how high the water rates are...)

[Diceman719]

My TT is parked in the back yard down here in S. Florida...
(My house is on the Market and I'm going full-timing as soon as it sells.)
I have an extension cord, with an adapter, running into a wall outlet in the Florida Room.

If I *don't* run the fridge on Propane, I pop the house circuit breaker every time the TT A/C comes on.
(Believe me, keeping the A/C on while working on/filling the TT is a must down here. And I *have* to have the fridge running to keep the beer cold!)
With the fridge on Propane, the A/C runs just fine...

Plus, Propane is a lot cheaper than electricity in my area.
(I'm not even going to get into how high the water rates are...)

[dadmomh]

We have our camper at home and plugged in from the first of the season until winterizing. The A/C is on, along with the frig. I never noticed any change in our utility bill. We do lose power at the drop of a hat. Usually we fill both tanks at the beginning of the season and still have some in the first one toward the end. Don't think the cost either way would be significant.

[farmerbillswife]

I do have it on auto---but just the conversation came up about which is cheaper. Electric is metered for seasonals and it is .20 KW --Yes I am a woman but telling by my name I am a farmers wife so I can handle a propane tank.;) But if I really really needed it - the camp provides propane service. Thanks for all the input!

[Bumpyroad]

powderman426 wrote:
Where I stay electric is provided, and propane isn't.

Guess which one I use.:@

that's what I was thinking also.
unless one is at a metered site, why bother?
bumpy

[pianotuna]

Hi,

The fridge will average about 5 kwh per day. Find out the cost of power.

[Golden_HVAC]

I agree with keeping it on auto, in case of power failure, the refrigerator will switch over to the propane, and keep everything cold.

How much of a in-convenience is it to refill a propane tank, and what time will that take, is it really worth the time - even if electric is say $2 a month more expensive than running on propane?

Now how to figure that cost, the same goes for the water heater, and electric space heating.

To get 80,000 Btu's of heat from 1 gallon of propane, run the furnace a couple of hours, burn that gallon of propane (or the refrigerator for about 40 hours). Or you can use a electric heater and burn 22 KW of electricity to get 80,000 Btu's of heat. What is more expensive? If you are paying the 9 cents per KW like in Portland Oregon, home of much hydropower, then it will cost $1.98 for electric. Propane is a bit more expensive now, around $3 per gallon.

Your local area might vary. Say you are paying 15 cents per KW, like southern California. Then 22 KW is about $3.30. So if your propane supplier is only $3.00 per gallon, buying propane is less expensive. But in most parts of the country, electric will be less.

Ammonia refrigerators are not energy efficient. However they are the only kind that can run from a propane flame, and as such can be run while boondocking (in a practical manner). To run a electric refrigerator while dry camping, you would need to run the generator a lot, need to carry more than 100 extra pounds of batteries, and perhaps 400 or so watts of solar panels to lessen the time spent running the generator.

The ammonia refrigerator will run many more hours per day and consume more energy than a small bar type refrigerator. It can run 5 - 12 hours per day using 300 watts per hour with outside temps in the 50 - 80F range (night and day). A bar refrigerator with tiny freezer section might use 50 - 75 watts and run 3-4 hours to do the same job with only a total of 350 watts per day.

Fred.

[powderman426]

Where I stay electric is provided, and propane isn't.

Guess which one I use.:@

[USMarine0369]

I keep mine on auto. That way, if either the propane or electricity shut off, you are covered.
Think about it this way; how much of a pain is it (and is it cost effective) if you run the fridge on propane, but when the propane runs out, you have to drive and get the bottles refilled? Not only costs of driving there, but the time it takes you to unhook the bottles, load them up, get them filled, loaded in the truck, and then find someone to unload them for you( I am guessing by your name that you are a woman and 30lb propane tanks are heavy)?
I say use the electricity and keep the propane for a back up.